Chapter 27: Masterful Persuasion—A Bold Move!

The girl was beautiful.

Even under Ian's discerning gaze—practically a "raw camera lens" with no filter—there wasn't a single flaw to be found. She was far beyond the airbrushed beauties he had seen on social media.

Her skin was as fair as freshly fallen snow, smooth and luminous like fine porcelain. Her delicate features carried an air of cold elegance, an ethereal beauty further accentuated by her platinum blonde hair.

Golden light danced through her strands as she spoke.

"I've seen you before."

Her voice was soft, clear, and youthful.

"Ah, I suppose that must have been in Diagon Alley. I bought my wand just before you did." Ian recognized the girl almost instantly.

Ollivanders.

He had nearly collided with her rather aloof-looking guardian there.

"Is that so?"

The girl gave a noncommittal response, her mismatched eyes—one deep blue, the other a striking shade of amethyst—fixed intently on Ian's face.

"…Yeah, that's right."

Ian raised an eyebrow, feeling slightly uncomfortable under her steady gaze.

It wasn't the first time a girl had stared at him, but her eyes were different. There was something piercing about them, as if she were studying him in a way no one else had before.

And, he had to admit, she was stunning.

Even with his strikingly handsome features—reminiscent of a young Leonardo DiCaprio, but with even sharper refinement—he couldn't help but feel that, in sheer presence, she might just outshine him.

"Is there something I can help you with? Kraft is out at the moment, so I'm looking after the shop."

Finally, the girl averted her gaze.

Ian assumed Kraft must be the name of the bookstore's owner.

"I'd like to sell these three books back to him and pick out some advanced potion textbooks." Ian flashed his best warm and approachable smile.

Not because he was smitten—he was far too mature for that—but because a good impression might just get him a better deal.

At the end of the day, a stack of Galleons was far more attractive than a girl he had just met.

"Selling and buying books? No problem."

The girl glanced at the hefty tomes Ian was holding. Wizarding books were thick and heavy, nearly covering his entire torso.

"So… you're the overconfident little wizard Kraft mentioned?"

Ian froze.

The girl studied the book titles and then looked at him again, her expression shifting to one of mild surprise.

Clearly, Ian had become a topic of amusement for the bookstore's owner.

"…Well, that's awkward."

His smile stiffened slightly.

"Apologies."

The girl seemed to realize her words had been a bit rude. She quickly stood up and bowed her head in an apologetic gesture.

With a soft thud, the book she had been reading slipped from her lap and hit the floor.

Flustered, she crouched down to pick it up, her movements hurried but still managing to maintain a degree of grace.

Even while fumbling, she didn't forget to offer a more earnest explanation.

"I didn't mean to insult you. I was just repeating Kraft's words. Though… I suppose he was mocking you."

Ian let out a dry chuckle.

Great. That really cleared things up.

"Well, I can't deny that magical script is a bit tricky for me."

He forced his smile to remain in place. He had assumed the girl would be cold and reserved, but instead, she had an unexpectedly blunt and peculiar way of speaking.

"It's difficult for me as well."

She placed her book back on the table and took Ian's books in exchange. That's when he noticed the title of the book she had been reading.

Runic Analysis and Studies.

A book he had never heard of.

Actually, it didn't even seem to be a published book.

Unlike standard wizarding textbooks, which usually had their titles embossed in gold, the title of this one was handwritten in neat script with a quill.

A journal or notes, perhaps?

Definitely more advanced than the beginner-level books Ian had been working through.

"I took a peek at it because it's a third-year elective. Just out of curiosity." Ian sighed dramatically, not wanting to flaunt the fact that he had already grasped the basics of runes.

At Hogwarts, standing out academically wasn't necessarily a bad thing. But here in Hogsmeade, a place full of all kinds of people, it was best to avoid drawing too much attention.

Acting weak wasn't his style, but he wasn't about to paint a target on his back either.

"You're a first-year?"

The girl's eyes gleamed with interest.

"That's right. Ian Prince. If all goes well, we might be classmates?"

He remembered seeing her at Ollivanders not long ago—she must be around his age.

"Perhaps. The Headmaster hasn't approved my enrollment yet… I'm Aurora Grindelwald."

She seemed hesitant as she introduced herself, her mismatched eyes locked onto Ian's face as if expecting some kind of reaction.

Was she waiting for a handshake?

Ian extended his hand, and after a brief moment of surprise, Aurora reached out and shook it.

"A strong name."

Ian offered a polite comment, though something about her surname nagged at him. It felt familiar, like a word just on the tip of his tongue.

"Thank you. And you're quite bold."

Aurora let out a quiet breath, as if relieved.

Ian tilted his head slightly, not understanding what she meant.

Noticing his confusion, she quickly diverted her attention to the books he had placed on the counter.

"Kraft said he'd buy these back for three Galleons."

That was a suspiciously quick change of topic.

Ian, however, was more focused on his disappointment.

"So the old man did leave instructions…"

He had been hoping to stretch the truth a bit to negotiate a better price, but it seemed Kraft was too careful for that.

"My books are in pristine condition. I've only had them for a few days—they're easily worth four Galleons." Ian decided to push his luck anyway.

To his surprise—

"You make a fair point. Four Galleons it is."

Aurora agreed without hesitation.

Ian was momentarily thrown off.

"…Right. Then I'll take some second-hand potion textbooks."

He had prepared a whole argument, only to have no use for it.

Aurora glanced around the chaotic stacks of books, looking slightly lost.

"I'll find them myself."

Ian was familiar with the store by now, and within minutes, he had gathered a pile of potion books ranging from first to seventh-year materials.

"How much for all these?"

The stack was nearly half his height. He had no idea if the money he had left—plus the payment for his sold books—would be enough.

Damn magical book prices.

The wizarding world could really use a businessman willing to break this monopoly.

"Let me check…"

Aurora turned the books over, searching for price labels, but most were too worn or missing. Her composed expression wavered slightly.

"…How much do you think they're worth?"

After a long pause, she finally asked, feigning confidence.

"I'd say… one Galleon?"

Ian answered with the conviction of someone who knew no shame.

Aurora inhaled sharply.

"Kraft would lose his mind if he heard that."

Her wording was odd.

Ian didn't dwell on it, though—he had more important things to focus on.

"I'm not buying them. I'm renting. I'll return them later."

If the wizarding world had self-writing quills, surely he could just copy down the important parts.

"…He'll notice."

Aurora hesitated.

"There are too many books here. He took over the shop only a few months ago and hasn't even organized them. How would he know if a few temporarily went missing?"

Ian leaned in conspiratorially.

"The man is too lazy to cast a simple sorting spell. That tells you everything you need to know."

He put on his most sincere expression.

"Aurora, books exist to be read, not to gather dust."

Aurora's eyes widened slightly.

For a moment, she looked genuinely impressed.

"…Kraft cares about Galleons."

She hesitated but didn't outright refuse.

"I don't deny that. But neither of us know the actual prices of these books, do we?"

Ian grinned.

"I don't want to be cheated."

Aurora gave a small nod of agreement.

But then—

"Well, I don't want to be cheated either."

She looked at him seriously.

"Fair enough."

Ian's smile didn't waver.

"I don't want to be at a disadvantage. You don't want to be at a disadvantage. So, why don't we discuss renting books? Let's inconvenience your guardian, Mr. Kraft, just a little."

Ian leaned in slightly, a calculating gleam in his eyes.

"Before we continue, forgive me for asking—but is he your grandfather or your maternal grandfather?"

Aurora shook her head. "Of course not."

She hesitated for a moment before answering further.

"He's one of my guardians."

It seemed like she didn't want to disclose more details.

Not that it really mattered.

"Guardian works just fine," Ian said with an easy smile. "Trust me, he won't even notice if a few books go missing. I'll even pay you three gold coins. You can stash them away as pocket money."

Ian finally revealed his true intentions, using the most sinister tactic one could deploy against a child—bribery.

"!!!"

Aurora's expression shifted rapidly. She took in a sharp breath, staring at Ian with wide, disbelieving eyes.

"You're trying to bribe me?"

There was incredulity in her voice… but also a spark of excitement?

"This isn't bribery, Miss Grindelwald," Ian corrected her with a straight face. "This is a mutually beneficial transaction."

Lowering his voice, he added, "I'll return the books secretly. No one will ever know. A perfect win-win. I get the knowledge I need, and you get enough gold to buy a mountain of Chocolate Frogs."

Pausing for effect, he studied her face and added, "Or maybe you prefer Lemon Sherbets? Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans?"

Ian figured no kid could resist the temptation of sweets.

And sure enough, Aurora wavered.

The cool, composed aura she typically carried flickered for a brief moment, revealing something far more human—curiosity, mischief, and perhaps a tiny bit of rebellion.

"I don't know if this is the right thing to do," she muttered to herself. "But… I've never done something like this before. Maybe this is what my grandfather meant when he said Hogwarts would teach me valuable life lessons?"

Ian tilted his head. "What do you mean?"

Aurora looked up at him, her expression thoughtful.

"Deception."

She delivered her conclusion with absolute certainty.

"…"

Ian regretted asking.

But at least things were going in his favor.

"I'll agree to your deal."

Aurora finally relented.

Whether it was the gold or the opportunity to experiment with a new form of rebellion, she had made her choice.

It was hard to imagine someone actually wanting to learn deception, but hey, different people, different priorities.

"A wise decision," Ian said, feeling triumphant.

Aurora pulled out a sheet of parchment, quickly jotting down the names of the books he needed.

Then, from under the counter, she retrieved a single Galleon and handed it to him—it was what remained from the refund of the books he had returned, minus the rental fee for the new ones.

"Much appreciated! This helps a lot!" Ian said sincerely.

He wouldn't have resorted to persuading a child like this if his financial situation wasn't so dire. Who could've guessed that Hogwarts textbooks would cost a small fortune? And with Professor Mara's tutoring, he would need even more books in the future.

"You're welcome," Aurora replied in her usual crisp tone.

Then, out of nowhere, she asked, "Does this make us accomplices?"

For some reason, there was an unmistakable trace of excitement in her voice.

"No," Ian replied with a smirk. "It makes us friends."

Aurora blinked, looking momentarily lost.

Then, she simply nodded and turned her attention back to her books.

"To be honest, I wouldn't recommend getting too invested in Potions," she said matter-of-factly. "It won't make you particularly powerful."

"It's just an interest," Ian replied, carefully stacking the books to make them easier to carry.

As he finished, Aurora walked to the corner of the shop and retrieved a book from a white satchel.

"My grandfather once told me that when you find someone with potential, it's best to win them over."

She walked back toward him, holding a book that looked far more expensive than anything else in the store.

"What's this?" Ian asked, arms already full.

Aurora placed the book on top of his towering stack.

"I have a talent," she said softly, her heterochromatic eyes locking onto his. "I can sense when something belongs to someone else more than it does to me."

"Thanks," Ian said.

Whatever it was, it was still a gift.

Yet, as he met her gaze, he felt an inexplicable pressure from her mismatched eyes.

"I should get going. See you in a few days."

Ian turned to leave.

"You," Aurora called out, "are the most persuasive person I've ever met. You don't belong here—you belong in Azkaban. Honestly, I wouldn't be surprised if you end up there for fraud one day."

Her bluntness was almost amusing.

"I'll take that as a compliment," Ian chuckled. "Azkaban isn't the worst place in the world. If anything, I'd call it a training ground. But if I had a choice, I'd say Azkaban is just higher education—Nurmengard is the real graduation."

He threw the joke over his shoulder as he walked away, the weight of the books making each step slightly more difficult.

From behind the counter, Aurora's head snapped up.

"You know about Nurmengard?"

Ian paused at the door. "Yeah. It's where they locked up the first Dark Lord, right? It's mentioned in A History of Magic. I should probably look up his name when I get home."

He wasn't lying. It was in the Hogwarts history books.

But his real knowledge came from the Harry Potter movies and an embarrassing number of fanfictions. In those stories, any time the protagonist did something extreme—like murder—mysterious background characters would always whisper about sending them to Nurmengard.

"His name was Gellert," Aurora said quietly.

Ian kept walking. "Huh. That sounds about right."

"Gellert Grindelwald," she finished.

Ian stopped dead in his tracks.

Memories from his previous life suddenly sharpened, the haze lifting.

No wonder the name Grindelwald had seemed familiar!

Back before he transmigrated, wasn't there a whole spin-off movie series about that guy?

Wait—

Had he just casually called someone's relative a Dark Lord… right to their face?!

"Miss Grindelwald…" Ian turned his head slowly.

Aurora sat behind the counter, watching him with an unreadable expression.

"If I say 'Dark Lord' is a compliment, will you believe me?"

He forced the most unconvincing smile of his life.

Aurora let out a small laugh, raising a hand in farewell.

"You should be grateful Kraft isn't here."

Then, in a tone that almost sounded amused, she added,

"But he will be back soon."

That was all Ian needed to hear.

He bolted.

Practically sprinting back to the small house Professor Snape had arranged for him, he barely managed to haul his stack of books inside before collapsing onto a chair.

Taking a deep breath, he finally dumped them onto the table.

"Thud."

Books scattered everywhere.

One, however, stood out among the rest.

A sleek black tome with streaks of deep violet running through its cover. Unlike the worn, aged textbooks, this one looked… powerful.

Ian picked it up.

The title shimmered, almost as if it were alive—

"Advanced Secrets of the Dark Arts."